378 
THE GARDENING WORLD. 
February 15, 1890. 
case of B. Tweediana than that of many others, on 
account of the small size of the leaves. The latter are 
compound, and on the upper part of the plant consist 
of two leaflets and a terminal three-hooked tendril. 
The large yellow flowers remind us of an Allamanda. 
-- 
ARDENING fflSCELLANY. 
The Late William Wildsmith. 
Several years ago I made this gentleman’s acquaint¬ 
ance at the York Floral Fete in this wise. I was a young 
and somewhat inexperienced exhibitor, but neverthe¬ 
less went to the dinner of the society, and got a seat 
next to Mr. Wildsmith. Being an abstainer I was a 
little overawed by the champagne and other wines which 
flowed so freely, but beside me I felt I had a tower of 
strength in Mr. Wildsmith, who wore the “blue 
ribbon.” I cannot tell how much his precept and 
example from that day to this has encouraged and 
helped me, and I cannot forbear placing one more 
flower of remembrance on his grave by recording it. 
I have met him nearly every season since that one at 
York, and last September at the Vegetable Conference 
I promised to send him a few seeds of my firm’s 
(Dobbie & Co.) specialties for trial, as he was much 
taken up with them. 1 kept my promise, and the small 
packet reached him just the day before he died. I am 
glad it did.— TV. C., Springfield, Rothesay, Scotland. 
Anemone fulgens. 
Those only who grow this plant in masses in the open 
air can imagine the brilliant effect produced during 
February and March, or even in January in seasons 
like the present. It is a native of Greece and other 
parts of South Europe, and naturally flowers very early 
in our country on that account. The flowers are large, 
brilliant scarlet, and consist of numerous pointed 
sepals, with a mass of violet-black stamens in the centre. 
The first leaves thrown up are deeply tripartite, dark 
green, with very little divided segments. Succeeding 
leaves have much longer petioles, and are five-parted, 
with finely-divided segments of a lighter green. In 
the grounds of Messrs. Barr & Sons, Long Ditton, 
S.W., are eleven long beds of this showy Anemone. 
Most of the roots were collected in a wild state last 
year, and were sorted into sizes before being planted. 
Some beds of the larger pieces are now a mass of bloom, 
and have been so since some time last month. When 
cut and left in the cold the flowers close up, but if 
brought into a warm room and put iu water, they 
remain open night and day. By mixing them with 
Christmas Boses, coloured or white Lenten Lilies, 
Snowdrops, and other hardy spring flowers, a gorgeous 
effect is produced. The blooms may also be mixed 
with their own foliage to advantage. 
Cyclamen Atkinsi. 
There can be little doubt that Cyclamen Coum and 
C. ibericum are most intimately allied ; in fact, some 
eminent authorities consider that the latter' is only a 
geographical form of C. Coum. C. Atkinsi is said to 
have been derived from the crossing of the two forms. 
The characteristics of this variety are that the leaves 
are more or less marbled with grey on the upper side, 
and purple beneath ; and that the flowers are white 
with a rich purple zone round the mouth. Then again 
this has given rise to several forms with larger and 
variously coloured flowers, some of which are more 
intense than the original parents of the race. Seeds of 
this race, when sown, give rise to the parents, which 
can be then separated. Some of the seedlings show 
the unspotted unmistakable deep green leaves of 
C. Coum, while others show the marbling of C. ibericum. 
This latter may occasionally be seen in gardens under 
the name of C. Coum vernum. Seedlings now flower¬ 
ing in the nurseries of Messrs. Barr & Sons, show all of 
the above characters. 
Aucuba japonica long’ifolia. 
The leaves of this strikingly distinct variety are linear- 
lanceolate, distantly and rather coarsely toothed, and 
deep green, but not variegated, as in the common one. 
They are also leathery in texture, and vary in length 
from 3 ins. to 6 ins. A. liimalaica has also narrow 
leaves, but not so markedly as in this case, and the 
two may readily be distinguished by their berries. 
That under notice is a berry-bearing form, the berries 
being oblong, whereas they are” globular in A. 
himalaica. It is difficult to make a comparison between 
the long-leaved Aucuba and any other shrub, becaus e 
there is nothing scarcely amongst hardy shrubs to 
which we may liken it. This argues all the more 
strongly for its admission into collections, to be grown 
in association with other kinds, or for mixing with 
shrubs generally. It is vigorous, and forms a dense 
leafy bush, from amongst which the berries peep, as 
may be seen at High Elms, Bent, the seat of the Eight 
Hon. Sir John Lubbock, Bart, M.P. 
The Pink. 
I have read with interest the paper on the Pink by 
your correspondent, Mr. J. G. Paul (p. 357), but was not 
a little surprised that he should consider the garden 
Pinks to have sprung from Dianthus Caryophyllus. 
The Cloves, Carnations and Picotees all originated from 
that species, but the garden Pinks originated from 
Dianthus plumarius, popularly known as the Garden 
Pink or Pheasant’s-eye. The two species are very 
distinct botanically, and may be distinguished from 
one another by the foliage alone, even when not in 
flower. The edges of the leaves of D. Caryophyllus 
are smooth on the edge, besides being larger and 
broader than those of D. plumarius. The edges of the 
leaves of the latter are finely serrulate, which may be 
noticed with a pocket lens, or may be discerned by 
their roughness, if passed between the finger and 
thumb, proceeding from the apex of the leaf downwards. 
D. Caryophyllus, or the wild Carnation, is a native of 
southern Europe, although it has been naturalised on 
old walls in several parts of England for a great many 
years. D. plumarius, or the wild Pink, is a native of 
eastern Europe, from whence it was introduced in 1629. 
It is also naturalised on old walls in some parts of the 
south, and like D. Caryophyllus, is recorded in British 
Floras. I have seen the Pink growing on old walls at 
Oxford, but that would not lead me to suppose it a 
native. — Wild Pink. 
Clematis indivisa. 
This very free-flowering Clematis has done grandly 
with us this winter. A plant in a 12-in. pot, trained to 
wires on the roof of the greenhouse, has produced large 
quantities of its pure white flowers since Christmas, and 
there are still plenty on the plant. It is very useful for 
cutting, and is not over large, like many of the other 
varieties. When quantities of cut flowers are in 
demand, a few plants grown as I have described, or 
planted out or trained to balloons would be very useful, 
especially if brought into flower during the winter 
months. It is of very easy culture, and anyone possess¬ 
ing a cool greenhouse can with little care grow it well, 
especially if kept free from insects.— Alfred Gaut, 
Berwick Gardens, Shrewsbury. 
Freesias. 
These are well grown by Mr. Price, the gardener at 
Lower Saughton, Flintshire, and he contends that by 
fully exposing them to the sun when at rest, and giving 
them what some might term a good baking, he can get 
a more even show of flowers than by any other method 
of culture. All the flower stems throw up simul¬ 
taneously, which is an advantage to those having a 
conservatory to furnish, though not of so much import 
when wanted solely for cutting purposes.— W. R. 
Green Mint all the Year round. 
A supply of green Mint can be obtained at any season 
of the year at very little trouble and comparatively no 
cost by the adoption of a few simple expedients. 
From early summer onwards a supply can, of course, 
be obtained from the open air. Towards the end of 
July a quantity, according to convenience and require¬ 
ments, may be cut down close to the ground. Should 
the weather be very dry at the time, a good watering 
will encourage the development of young growth. 
This will remain short and dwarf all through the 
autumn and winter. During severe weather some 
boughs may be stuck in the ground over the bed for 
the purpose of protecting the short leafy shoots. Over 
the boughs or bent rods a mat may be thrown. From 
this bed fresh green leaves may be obtained till 
February, or even longer, according to the nature of 
the weather. Then a quantity of these short shoots 
may be cut and put into boxes of some light compost, 
and the boxes stood in a Peach-house or vinery just 
being started. The cuttings will soon root, after 
which their tops may be cut off, if necessary, for imme¬ 
diate use. Fresh shoots will soon be pushed up from 
the base, and thus continue the supply till it can be 
obtained from the open ground. This is the plan 
adopted by Mr. Taylor, gardener to the Bight Hon. 
Sir John Lubbock, Bart., M.P., High Elms, Farn- 
borough, Kent, and he finds the plan answer admirably. 
The Cape Pennyroyal. 
This name is given to Pelargonium tomentosum, the 
odour of whose leaves may well be compared to that of 
the true Pennyroyal (Mentha pulegium). Time was 
when many of the fragrant-leaved species of Pelar¬ 
goniums were grown for the sake of their foliage. A 
reaction in their favour is again setting in in many 
quarters, and the plants are grown to be stood about 
in suitable places, or for the sake of their leaves, which 
are cut and mixed with cut flowers. Several species 
are growm for these purposes at Gunnersbury House, 
Acton, and we noted particularly a large old plant of 
the Cape Pennyroyal—larger, indeed, one seldom 
sees, although the plant has been common in cottage 
windows for a great many years past. Having been 
introduced in 1790, this is the centenary of its intro¬ 
duction, although it is hardly likely to be celebrated. 
Eriostemon mucronatum. 
There are some thirty known species of Eriostemon, 
natives almost entirely of the cooler parts of Australia, 
and therefore suited for greenhouse culture in this 
country. They are members of the Orange family, 
with flowers not unlike Orange blossom but. smaller, 
and leaves more comparable to the Myrtle in size. 
The latter, of course, vary in size and shape according 
to the species, and in this instance they are lance¬ 
shaped, and end in a short sharpish point, as indicated 
by the specific name. They are leathery in texture, 
and evergreen, while the flowers are abundantly pro¬ 
duced in axillary clusters during the winter months, 
and last a long time in perfection. The spreading 
petals are white on the upper surface and pink on the 
back. The plants are suitable for greenhouse decora¬ 
tion, and require treatment similar to that accorded 
hard-wooded Hew Holland plants generally ; and the 
sprays may be used amongst cut flowers. At present 
it is by no means common in gardens, but we noted 
it at Gunnersbury Park, Acton, the other day. 
Davallia Tyermanni. 
Oxe of the finest and most durable of all the Davallias 
is that above named. The fronds are triangular, com¬ 
pact, leathery in texture, three times divided, with the 
pinnules again more or less cut and toothed. It comes 
from the west coast of Africa, from whence it was intro¬ 
duced as recently as 1371, and may therefore be 
considered as a stove Fern. In such a structure, with 
its accustomed temperature, it revels, but may also be 
very satisfactorily grown in a house with an inter¬ 
mediate temperature. After growth is completed, it 
may be kept for lengthened periods of time in a green¬ 
house or conservatory. Owing to its creeping habit, it 
is well adapted for basket work. The long rhizomes 
are rather thicker than a goose-quill, and densely 
covered with chaffy white scales, which add much to 
the interesting appearance of the plant. The principal 
branches of the petiole are brownish red, and the large 
abundant sori are of a deep orange colour. 
Narcissus bulbocodium nivalis. 
Of the forms of the Hoop Petticoat Daffodil this is the 
smallest, and this is more especially evident if the bulbs 
are grown out of doors. The perianth is generally 
under an inch in length, and of a bright yellow. The 
segments are narrow, equally or slightly shorter than 
the funnel-shaped corona. The two or three leaves 
with which it is furnished are very narrow, flattened 
above, and deep green. The varietal name applies to 
its time of flowering in its native habitats just after 
the disappearance of the melting snow. It is perfectly 
hardy in this country, but liable to die out after a time; 
but it may be more successfully cultivated in pots. 
Heaths, Epacrises, and the Fog. 
Gardeners iu country districts, and beyond the reach 
of the smoky and sulphur-laden fogs of large towns, 
are situated under vastly different conditions in the 
matter of plant-growing to what many brothers of 
the profession are. One would hardly expect Heaths 
and Epacrises to suffer in the same way as the flowers 
of Orchids, yet we recently noted a case of this kind 
at Gunnersbury Park, Acton, where the more forward 
of the buds or expanded flowers wither up as if scorched 
by fire. Amongst Heaths, Erica hyemalis is particularly 
liable to suffer in this way. The Epacrises are well 
grown and full of buds, and flower as is usual at this 
establishment, but it is very disappointing to have 
the flowers withering up in the middle of the sprays as 
in this instance. The buds while still firm are not 
hurt at all. The effects of one day’s fog is not so 
visibly destructive as those of two days 
